Solar energy based heating systems are the ultimate energy saving measures to cut down the costs of using conventional energy sources. This alternative source of energy is clean, will not cease and does not pose a threat to environment. Therefore, energy absorbed from the sun produces an unlimited resource of energy, unlike traditional sources of energy that are reducing alarmingly and do not emit toxic green house gases (the carbon dioxide gases) in the environment.

The use of solar energy is nothing new as from the ancient times water tubs, urns and bowls containing water were kept in the sun to heat up water for bathing or other purposes. Even in the times of frontier days of America, wooden troughs were filled with rain water and later were heated by the heat of the sun in summer months.

From the late 1800’s onwards, commercial water heating systems to be operated by solar power came into the market. At present, these solar power operated heating systems are widespread in common households as part of the pursuit of alleviating energy uses and the negative impact on our planet. Thus, solar energy operated heaters can reduce the carbon footprint of a property and lessen global warming threats.

Variations in Solar Energy Based Water Heating Systems

Water heating systems run by solar power tend to vary largely due to the variations prevalent in the solar collectors. The most common form of solar energy collector designs found in water heating systems comprises a black painted copper plate with a water tube adjacent to it (or the tube is placed above the plate) to capture the sun's rays on falling over it. As the plate captures the sun’s rays, it produces energy to heat up the water in the tub. Then the hot water is stored in a tank.

Another type of solar collector system is integral solar collectors that provide water heating function to collector panels. This method of heating system is present in passive solar energy based water heating panels. Though, some active water heating systems may use this mechanism of heating water but this is not usually found in water heating systems for houses.